NATCHEZ — Carl Knight’s claim to fame at Natchez High School is being the smallest starting offensive lineman.

At 5’7”, 185 pounds, Knight holds his own against Class 5A defenders, and he does it with ferociousness.

“He’s so gritty,” Natchez defensive coordinator Dan Smith said. “It’s actually easier for him to stay low on the line because he’s already in position to do that. I’m glad and proud to coach him.”

Before earning a starting position on the offensive line, Knight was playing on the defensive line for Smith. Knight’s hard work on the defensive side of the ball opened the door for a starting position on offense, and it’s that same hard work that’s allowed him to excel in the classroom with a 3.4 GPA.

“He’s a great, hard worker,” Smith said. “He plays both sides of the ball, and he’s a model citizen. We emphasize academics first, and he’s a great example of that.”

Knight, who hopes to take the pre-pharmacy route at Mississippi State next year, said his favorite subject is history, as he loves learning about the past.

“I like World History,” Knight said. “The industrial revolution really intrigues me because you got to see how things were built.”

When Knight isn’t studying or practicing, he’s playing Madden or Call of Duty on his PlayStation 4. Knight plays his fellow offensive linemen in Madden.

“I played Train (Gerald Wiley), and he got me,” Knight said. “Danterrius Murray got me in the summer…”

As a senior, Knight has yet to reach the postseason during his football career at Natchez. A win against Brookhaven Friday night would change that, and it would make his senior class the first group to reach the playoffs since 2010.

“It would mean the world to me,” Knight said.